Discharger



1934- R. c. COUPLAND DISCHARGER Filed Aug. 2, 1932 Inventor Richard E-Emup1and MW IZww/Z Attur'ne Patented Feb. 27, 1934 DISCHARGER Richard C. Coupland, United States Army, Norfolk, Va.

Application August 2, 1932. Serial No. 627,245-

Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, Without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

at This invention relates to a discharger especially adapted for attachment to a rifle and capable of firing a grenade or pyrotechnic signal.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a discharger in which the barrel containing projectile is movable in recoil to absorb the shock occasioned by firing the projectile.

A further object is to provide a novel method of mounting the discharger on a rifle and to include a simple and efiective firing mechanism.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the ccompanying drawing, where- Fig. l is a view in side elevation partly in section, of the improved discharger.

Fig. 2 is a plan view, parts shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation.

Fig. i is a view in rear elevation.

The discharger consists generally of a barrel A movably mounted in a receiver B that is secured to the muzzle of a rifle C in a manner similar to a bayonet.

The receiver comprises a cylindrical body 5 whose base 6 is formed with a. groove 7 for receiving the lug 8 provided on the rifle for attachment of a bayonet. A bolt 9 inserted through the base of the body from the inside thereof and eccentric with respect to the body projects from the rear of the body to carry a nut 10. The nut is circular with a segment thereof cut away to provide a fiat side 11. When mounting the discharger on the rifle by a movement parallel to the axis thereof in order to connect the lug 8 and groove 7, the fiat side 11 of the nut is disposed parallel to and clear of the floor 12 of the groove '7. Partial rotation of the nut disposes it in rear of the lug 8 where it serves to prevent withdrawal of the discharger. The nut is held in position of adjustment by means of a spring or click latch 13.

An arm 14 projecting from the upper forward part of the body 5 includes a yoke 15 having a centrally located rearwardly opening socket 16 adapted to fit over the muzzle of the rifle barrel 1'? in front of the sight ring 18 which acts to limit rearward movement of the discharger on being mounted on the rifle.

The yoke is formed with a pair of spaced sockets l919 opening forwardly and each receiving a tube 20. The front end of each tube is disposed in a sleeve 21 and the sleeves are secured as by welding to the barrel A. Within each tube is a spring 22 confined between the yoke and a buffer consisting of a series of interfitting rings 23 and 24, normally positioned in the front end of the tube. The front ring 23a is formed on a stem 25 seated on the front end of the sleeve 21. The spring and rings embrace a rod 26 fixed in the yoke and having a head 27 which limits forward movement of the sleeve under the influence of the spring.

The base 28 of the barrel A is provided with a rearwardly projecting tubular stem 29 having a sliding fit in the cylindrical body 5. When the barrel is in its foremost or in battery position as seen in Fig. 1, only the rear portion of the stem is disposed within the body 5 while in the position of full recoil the stem is almost completely within the body.

A hammer 30 having a diameter less than that of the interior of the body 5 and housed therein is partially inserted in the stem 29. A slot 31 in the hammer receives the inner end of a lever 32 that extends through an aperture 33 in the wall of the body 5 and is mounted on a pivot pin 34 between ears 3535. The stem is provided with a slot 36 to accommodate the lever when the barrel moves in recoil.

A firing pin 3'7 mounted in the base 28 of the barrel is normally retracted by a spring 38. When the firing pin is struck by the hammer the head 39 of the pin is projected from a recess 41 in 2. lug 42 on the inner face of the base 28 and strikes the primer of a projectile 43. The projectile consists of a grenade or pyrotechnic signal carrying its own propelling charge and adapted to be inserted in the barrel through the muzzle.

In operation when a projectile is fired from the barrel the reaction of the propellant force causes the barrel to move rearwardly in recoil, compressing the buffer rings 23 and 24 and the spring 22 and restoring the hammer to its rearmost position. The spring then functions to return the barrel into battery. By virtue of the employment of the buffer rings very light springs will be sufficient to check recoil and consequentappropriate substitute.

I claim: I V, 1. In combination with a support having a lug, a receiver having a groove for receivingthe lug and having a yoke fitting over the muzzle of the support, a nut on the rear end of the receiver movable into and out of position in rear of the lug, a pair of spaced tubes carried by the yoke and projecting forwardly therefrom, a sleeve slidably mounted on the forward end of each tube, a rod within each tube and sleeve, said rod secured to the yoke and having ahead engageable with the front end of the sleeve, a spring in each tube and seated onlthe yoke, buffer rings embracing the rod and positioned between the spring and the front end of the sleeve, :3. barrel secured to both sleeves, a tubular stem on the rear end of the barrel and'having aisliding'fit in the receiver, and an element of a firing mechanism movable within the tubular stem.

'2'. Incombination with a support having a lug, a'receiver having a groove for receiving the lug anjd having a yoke fitting'over the muzzle of the support, "a'nut on the rear endof the receiver movable into and out of position in rear of the lug, "apair of spaced tubes carried by the yoke and projecting forwardly therefrom, a sleeve slidably mounted on "the forward end of each tube, a'rod within each'tube and sleeve, said rod secured to'the yoke andhaving a head engageable with thefront end of the sleeve, a spring in each tube and seated on the yoke, buffer rings embracing the rod and positioned between the spring and the front end of the sleeve, a barrel secured to both sleeves, and having a part fitting in the receiver.

3. In a discharger, a receiver including a yoke,

a barrel having its base slidably mounted in the receiver, sets of telescoping tubes, one of the tubes of each set. attached to the yoke and the other to the barrel, a rod within each set of tubes, said rod secured to the yoke and having means for limiting forward movement of the tube on the barrel, a spring embracing the rod and seated on the yoke, and buffer rings embracing the rod and positioned between the spring and the front end of the tube on the barrel.

4. Ina discharger, a receiver including a yoke, a barrel having its base slidably mounted in the receiver, sets of telescoping tubes, one of the tubes of each set attached. to the yoke and the other to the barrel, a rod within each set of the openingin'the side Wall of the receiver and engageable with the hammer, and a firing'pin carried by the barrel.

RICHARD C. COUPLAND. 

